Yosemite – High Sierra Camp Loop

June 15 to June 17, 2018

Ever since completing the John Muir Trail last summer, I’ve longed to put the pack back on and trek through the Sierra high country. As soon as the reservation window opened, I’d planned this long weekend in early summer hoping that California would have a “normal” snow year – in contrast to last year’s record snow – in which case odds were that trail would be largely clear. I’d also optimistically reserved a permit for three in hopes that I’d have company, and ultimately I was joined by Hunter who wanted to join the “OG” for a Fathers Day weekend! Some lucky soul got a walk-up permit for the vacated spot.A below average snow year this past winter ensured an essentially snow-free trip, but at high elevations it was evident that snow had just retreated from some of the trails.

Our plan was to complete the loop of trails connecting Yosemite’s five high Sierra trail camps. These camps are open no more than maybe three months a year, and never opened last year due to record slows and late melt. They are operated by park concessionaires and offer something akin to “glamping” with tents, meals and showers provided. Nothing remotely glamorous from what we saw, but fantastic locations in the high country. Some hikers connect the camps over a week with a stop each night at successive camps. We opted for a long weekend of self-sufficient backpacking over the 49 mile loop.

We had a late start around 10:30 am after picking up our permits. Our route took us clockwise around the loop, first heading south from Tuolumne Meadows along the JMT to Rafferty Creek trail over Tuolumne Pass en route to Vogelsang Camp. We then headed onward to Merced Camp via Fletcher Creek trail and set up camp amidst the very quite camp (just us and one other couple). The first day’s mileage was just under 17.

fullsizeoutput_106e — Start at Tuolumne Meadows

fullsizeoutput_1062 — Along Rafferty Creek to Tuolumne Pass

fullsizeoutput_106a — Fletcher and Vogelsang Peaks

fullsizeoutput_1065 — Lunch break with a view

fullsizeoutput_1064 — Long, rocky descent down to Merced Lake

LRG_DSC05314 — Long meadow along Fletcher Creek

fullsizeoutput_1093 — Crossing Fletcher Creek

fullsizeoutput_104b — Impressive amounts of stonework on trail down to Merced Lake

fullsizeoutput_104d — Camp in the middle of Merced Camp; some tent platforms immediately behind

On day two, we headed west to Echo Valley where we watched a bear as we topped up our water in the Merced River. From there we headed northward to join the JMT along Sunrise Creek up to Sunrise Camp, then past Sunrise Lakes to Tenaya Lake. The last leg of the day took us from Tanya Lake up to May Lake Camp where we had considerably more company than the night before (only 1.2 miles from a trailhead), but we still had plenty of space and quite. Day two’s mileage was just over 18.

fullsizeoutput_15bd — Early morning at Merced Lake

fullsizeoutput_1052 — Downward along Merced River

fullsizeoutput_1045 — Bear at Echo Valley

fullsizeoutput_103d — Leaving Merced watershed; Mount Clark in distance

LRG_DSC05420 — Approaching burned zone near JMT; Half Dome in distance

LRG_DSC05412 — Forest regenerating; Clouds Rest upper right – we saw it a lot on days 2 & 3

fullsizeoutput_105e — Cathedral Peak across Sunrise Meadow

LRG_DSC05436 — We didn’t linger long at Sunrise Meadows; too many hungry mosquitos

fullsizeoutput_1092 — Lower Sunrise Lake

LRG_DSC05458 — May Lake and Mount Hoffman

Day three’s route headed north to Glen Aulin Camp before heading southeast back to Tuolumne Meadows on the PCT, 14 miles for the day and 49 miles for the loop. As we neared the end of our loop, we ran into a couple of guys heading north on the PCT and I compared notes with them on the pass conditions over the JMT section this year to last. Truly envious of anyone doing that awesome trek from Mexico to Canada.

fullsizeoutput_1046 — Sunrise at May Lake

LRG_DSC05476 — Looking south climbing away from May Lake; Mount Clark on left, Clouds Rest on right

LRG_DSC05478 — Looking south to Clouds Rest and Half Dome in far distance

fullsizeoutput_1022 — Looking north across Yosemite

fullsizeoutput_1035 — Down to Glen Aulin

fullsizeoutput_105d — White Cascade at Glen Aulin

fullsizeoutput_1027 — Day 3 at White Cascade

fullsizeoutput_1031 — Looking northwest as water rushes downward into Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River

fullsizeoutput_1023 — Tranquil Tuolumne River at Tuolumne Meadows

Photo Album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DxVa8Hqmx6n9nw2t9

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